Lubricant pump

Abstract

A lubricant pump ( 1 ) has a reservoir unit ( 100 ) and a pump unit ( 200 ). The reservoir unit ( 100 ) has a reservoir housing ( 101 ). The pump unit ( 200 ) has a pump housing ( 201 ). The pump unit ( 200 ) and the reservoir unit ( 100 ) are separably connected. When the housings ( 101; 201 ) are connected, the openings ( 108; 208 ) are fluid-connected to one another such that lubricant can flow out of the reservoir unit ( 100 ) into the pump unit ( 200 ). First and second plates ( 210; 212; 810; 910 ) are movable such that the opening ( 108; 208 ) of the pump unit can be closed and opened. Alternatively or in addition, first and second plates ( 110; 112; 810; 910 ) are movable such that the opening ( 108; 208 ) of the reservoir unit can be closed and opened.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lubricant pump comprising:
 a reservoir unit with a reservoir housing in the form of a reservoir container for storing lubricant, the reservoir housing having a reservoir housing connection section;   a pump unit with a pump device for conveying lubricant out of the reservoir unit to a lubricant consumer, the pump unit having a pump housing with a pump housing connection section;   the pump unit and the reservoir unit being separably connectable to one another, the reservoir housing connection section and the pump housing connection section each having an opening which provides access to an interior of the respective housing, the openings being fluid-connected to one another such that lubricant can be transferred out of the reservoir unit into the pump unit when the housings are in the connected state;   the lubricant pump also comprising:
 first and second plates on the pump housing connection section, one of the plates on the pump housing connection section being rotatable relative to the other of the plates on the pump housing connection section to close and open the opening of the pump housing connection section; and/or 
 first and second plates on the reservoir housing connection section, one of the plates on the reservoir housing connection section being rotatable relative to the other of the plates on the reservoir housing connection section to close and open the opening of the reservoir housing connection section. 
   
     
     
         2 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation is a sliding rotation of the plates for opening and closing the openings, and the rotation takes place substantially perpendicularly to a transfer direction of the lubricant from the reservoir unit into the pump unit. 
     
     
         3 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the plates at at least one of the openings are designed as multiple lamellae, each of which is rotatable about its own rotational axis, wherein the rotational axes are substantially parallel or perpendicular to a transfer direction of the lubricant out of the reservoir unit into the pump unit. 
     
     
         4 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the plates at at least one of the openings are disc-like and rotatable about a common rotational axis, wherein the rotational axis is substantially parallel to a transfer direction of the lubricant out of the reservoir unit into the pump unit. 
     
     
         5 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the plates each have a window opening, wherein the window openings are configured to be aligned flush with one another by means of the sliding of the plates so that the opening of the reservoir housing connection section and/or the opening of the pump housing connection section is opened or closed. 
     
     
         6 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the first plate of the pump unit is designed as a pump unit plate which is stationary in relation to the pump housing connection section, and the second plate of the pump unit is designed as a pump unit plate which is movable in relation to the pump housing connection section, and/or
 the first plate of the reservoir unit is designed as a reservoir unit plate which is stationary in relation to the reservoir housing connection section, and the second plate of the reservoir unit is designed as a reservoir unit plate which is movable in relation to the reservoir housing connection section.   
     
     
         7 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the stationary pump unit plate is connected to the pump housing by means of a screw fastening, and/or wherein the reservoir unit has a plate insert, wherein the plate insert is connectable to the reservoir housing connection section in a rotationally fixed manner via a frictional fit, and the plate insert is formed integrally with the stationary reservoir unit plate. 
     
     
         8 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the stationary pump unit plate has at least one engagement element, which is designed to interact with the movable reservoir unit plate such that the movable reservoir unit plate is connectable in a rotationally fixed manner to the stationary pump unit plate and is thus arranged in a stationary manner in relation to the pump unit, and a sliding rotation of the plates of the reservoir unit takes place via a rotation of the reservoir unit in relation to the pump unit so that, when the reservoir unit is rotated, the reservoir unit plate which is stationary in relation to the reservoir unit is moved over the movable reservoir unit plate. 
     
     
         9 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 6 , wherein the stationary reservoir unit plate has at least one coupling element, which is designed to interact with the movable pump unit plate such that the movable pump unit plate is connectable in a rotationally fixed manner to the stationary reservoir unit plate and is thus arranged in a stationary manner in relation to the reservoir unit, and a sliding rotation of the plates of the pump unit takes place via a rotation of the reservoir unit in relation to the pump unit so that, when the reservoir unit is rotated, the stationary reservoir unit plate moves the movable pump unit plate. 
     
     
         10 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sealing element arranged between the plates of the reservoir housing connection section and/or the plates of the pump housing connection section. 
     
     
         11 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump unit and/or the reservoir unit are equipped with at least one rotary angle limiting element, which is designed to limit a rotation of the plates against one another to a certain angle. 
     
     
         12 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant pump also has at least one securing element, which is designed to secure the plates in their open and/or closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir housing connection section and/or the pump housing connection section is equipped with at least one positioning aid to define a certain position between the pump unit and the reservoir unit and/or between the first and the second plate in each case. 
     
     
         14 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one connection securing element is provided on the pump unit and/or the reservoir unit, which connection securing element is used to secure the separable connection between the pump unit and the reservoir unit. 
     
     
         15 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir housing connection section and/or the pump housing connection section has at least one projection, which interacts with at least one recess formed in the respectively other connection section. 
     
     
         16 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 15 , wherein the combination of projection and recess is designed as an actuation element and/or as a positioning aid and/or as a rotary angle limiting element and/or as a securing element. 
     
     
         17 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir unit includes a guide rod and a following disc on the guide rod, the following disc configured to apply pressure to the lubricant received in the reservoir container and push the lubricant in the direction of the reservoir housing connection section. 
     
     
         18 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising an agitator element is arranged in the reservoir unit. 
     
     
         19 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising an agitator element is arranged in the pump unit, in the region of the pump housing connection section between the plates and the pump device. 
     
     
         20 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 19 , wherein the pump unit has a drive device having a rotatable shaft, and wherein the rotatable shaft is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the agitator element of the pump unit. 
     
     
         21 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 4 , further comprising at least one sealing element is arranged between the plates of the reservoir housing connection section and/or the plates of the pump housing connection section, wherein the at least one sealing element is arranged around one of the window openings. 
     
     
         22 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 17 , further comprising an agitator element is arranged in the reservoir unit, in the region of the reservoir housing connection section between the plates and the following disc. 
     
     
         23 . A lubricant pump comprising:
 a reservoir unit with a reservoir housing in the form of a reservoir container for storing lubricant, the reservoir housing having a reservoir housing connection section;   a pump unit with a pump device for conveying lubricant out of the reservoir unit to a lubricant consumer, the pump unit having a pump housing with a pump housing connection section;   the pump unit and the reservoir unit being separably connectable to one another, the reservoir housing connection section and the pump housing connection section each having an opening which provides access to an interior of the respective housing, the openings being fluid-connected to one another such that lubricant can be transferred out of the reservoir unit into the pump unit when the housings are in the connected state;   the lubricant pump also comprising:
 first and second plates on the pump housing connection section, which are movable such that the opening of the pump housing connection section is configured to be closed and opened with the first and second plates on the pump housing connection section, and/or 
 first and second plates on the reservoir housing connection section, which are movable such that the opening of the reservoir housing connection section is configured to be closed and opened with the first and second plates on the reservoir housing connection section; 
   wherein the movement takes place substantially perpendicularly to a transfer direction of the lubricant from the reservoir unit into the pump unit.   
     
     
         24 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 23 , wherein the movement is a sliding movement of the plates for opening and closing the openings. 
     
     
         25 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 23 , wherein the plates at at least one of the openings are designed as multiple lamellae, each of which is rotatable about its own rotational axis, wherein the rotational axes are substantially parallel or perpendicular to a transfer direction of the lubricant out of the reservoir unit into the pump unit. 
     
     
         26 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 23 , wherein the plates at at least one of the openings are disc-like and rotatable about a common rotational axis, wherein the rotational axis is substantially parallel to a transfer direction of the lubricant out of the reservoir unit into the pump unit. 
     
     
         27 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 26 , wherein the plates each have a window opening, wherein the window openings are configured to be aligned flush with one another so that the opening of the reservoir housing connection section and/or the opening of the pump housing connection section is opened or closed. 
     
     
         28 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 26 , wherein the first plate of the pump unit is designed as a pump unit plate which is stationary in relation to the pump housing connection section, and the second plate of the pump unit is designed as a pump unit plate which is movable in relation to the pump housing connection section, and/or
 the first plate of the reservoir unit is designed as a reservoir unit plate which is stationary in relation to the reservoir housing connection section, and the second plate of the reservoir unit is designed as a reservoir unit plate which is movable in relation to the reservoir housing connection section.   
     
     
         29 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 28 , wherein the stationary pump unit plate has at least one engagement element, which is designed to interact with the movable reservoir unit plate such that the movable reservoir unit plate is connectable in a rotationally fixed manner to the stationary pump unit plate and is thus arranged in a stationary manner in relation to the pump unit, and a sliding movement of the plates of the reservoir unit takes place via a rotation of the reservoir unit in relation to the pump unit so that, when the reservoir unit is rotated, the reservoir unit plate which is stationary in relation to the reservoir unit is moved over the movable reservoir unit plate. 
     
     
         30 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 28 , wherein the stationary reservoir unit plate has at least one coupling element, which is designed to interact with the movable pump unit plate such that the movable pump unit plate is connectable in a rotationally fixed manner to the stationary reservoir unit plate and is thus arranged in a stationary manner in relation to the reservoir unit, and a sliding movement of the plates of the pump unit takes place via a rotation of the reservoir unit in relation to the pump unit so that, when the reservoir unit is rotated, the stationary reservoir unit plate moves the movable pump unit plate. 
     
     
         31 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 23 , further comprising at least one sealing element arranged between the plates of the reservoir housing connection section and/or the plates of the pump housing connection section. 
     
     
         32 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 23 , wherein the pump unit and/or the reservoir unit are equipped with at least one rotary angle limiting element, which is designed to limit a rotation of the plates against one another to a certain angle. 
     
     
         33 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 23 , wherein the lubricant pump also has at least one securing element, which is designed to secure the plates in their open and/or closed position. 
     
     
         34 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 23 , further comprising at least one connection securing element is provided on the pump unit and/or the reservoir unit, which connection securing element is used to secure the separable connection between the pump unit and the reservoir unit. 
     
     
         35 . The lubricant pump according to  claim 23 , wherein the reservoir housing connection section and/or the pump housing connection section has at least one projection, which interacts with at least one recess formed in the respectively other connection section.